Should You Skip the iPhone 16 and Wait for the iPhone 17 Air?

Rumors from multiple credible sources claim that Apple plans to release a redesigned, significantly thinner iPhone 17 model next year. The device could end up being named the iPhone 17 Air, but the actual name is not known this early on.

iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 2
Should you consider skipping the iPhone 16 series and waiting for the iPhone 17 Air? We have recapped the latest rumors about the device below.

There have been conflicting rumors about the design and specifications for the iPhone 17 Air, but most sources have agreed that it will have around a 6.6-inch display. Given that the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch display, this suggests that the iPhone 17 Air will not be the highest-end device in the iPhone 17 lineup, but rather a mid-tier model.

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the iPhone 17 Air to be equipped with a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, and a single rear camera, which further suggests that the device will not be the highest-end model. He said that Apple is focusing on the design and thinness of the device over the absolute best specifications.

It's still early, so the iPhone 17 Air is unlikely to be finalized yet, and some design elements and features could change ahead of the device's expected release in September 2025. Apple may be testing varying prototypes of the device.

So, should you wait for the iPhone 17 Air? The answer comes down to what matters the most to you in an iPhone. If you want the absolute best iPhone, the iPhone 17 Air likely won't be for you, so you might as well consider the iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max instead. However, if you like the idea of a much thinner iPhone with a potentially unique design, and don't mind compromising on some specs, then it might be best to wait.

All four iPhone 16 models are available to pre-order starting this Friday, September 13, and the devices will launch on Friday, September 20.

Popular Stories

iOS 19 Mock WWDC25 Feature

iOS 19 Expected to Run on These iPhones

Monday March 31, 2025 5:28 pm PDT by
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected...
maxresdefault

Apple Releases iOS 18.4 With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music, New Emoji and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, the fourth major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating system updates that came out last year. iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 come two months after Apple released iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to...
watchOS 11 Thumb 2 1

Apple Releases watchOS 11.4 With Sleep Alarm Update

Tuesday April 1, 2025 10:34 am PDT by
Apple today released watchOS 11.4, the fourth major update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.4 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2. watchOS 11.4 can be downloaded on a connected iPhone by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software,...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Monday March 31, 2025 11:27 am PDT by
Apple today released new firmware updates for all AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 models. The new firmware is version 7E93, up from the 7B21 firmware that was installed on the AirPods Pro 2 and the 7B20 firmware available on the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC. It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in the new firmware, but we'll update this article should we find ...
macOS Sequoia Feature

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.4 With Mail Categorization and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:04 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.4, the fourth major update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that launched in September. macOS Sequoia 15.4 comes two months after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.3. Mac users can download the ‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. It is available for free on all Macs able to run macOS 15. With...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
Apple Card iPhone 16 Pro Feature

Visa and American Express Vying to Win Apple Card Deal in 'Fierce' Fight

Tuesday April 1, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Visa wants to pay Apple approximately $100 million to be the new payment network for the Apple Card, reports The Wall Street Journal. As of right now, the Apple Card is on the Mastercard payment network, but that is set to change because Apple is ending its partnership with Goldman Sachs. Both American Express and Visa are vying to replace Mastercard as Apple's card services provider, while...